CHAPTER 5 · CHAPTER 5 SPANISH EXPORT ... very similar to the German Gewehr 98 with pistol gripped...
Transcript of CHAPTER 5 · CHAPTER 5 SPANISH EXPORT ... very similar to the German Gewehr 98 with pistol gripped...
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CHAPTER 5
SPANISH EXPORT “MAUSERS”:
I am aware of only two Oviedo Factory foreign contracts: The first one, with
Mexico in the late 1890s, included both the M.1895 Mexican rifle and carbine,
both in 7x57 mm caliber, and the second one, with the Republic of Paraguay,
included the M.1927 Paraguayan rifle, musketoon (short rifle) and carbine, all
three in 7.65x53 mm caliber.
The Mexican M.1895 rifle is practically identical to the M.1893 Spanish rifle
and the Mexican M.1895 carbine, is almost identical to the 2nd Model Spanish
Mauser carbine (both previously described in Chapter 2) except for its lacking a
bayonet lug; This model carbine was again manufactured for Mexico in Oviedo
in the 1920s, in a small contract of perhaps 2,000 units, for Customs guards; I
have in my collection SN 15 made in 1926 with Oviedo and Mexican Republic
markings, and SN 1408, made in 1927, which bears on the left side of the butt
stock the inscription “ADUANA PALOMAS CHIHUAHUA” and “NUM.1”
(Palomas Customs, State of Chihuahua, and, No.1)
7 mm caliber Model of 1895 Mexican carbines, made in Oviedo in 1926 and
1927, one of them bearing the Mexican Republic’s “RM” marking on the
bolt, and, ADUANA PALOMAS CHIHUAHUA, the other one.
As an interesting historical anecdote I’ll mention that Pancho Villa’s famous, or
infamous, raid of 1916 into the town of Columbus, New Mexico, which caused
several deaths, was launched from the Mexican town of Palomas, state of
Chihuahua, just across the border from Columbus; The incident launched the
American “Punitive Expedition’ in search of Pancho Villa, commanded by
General “Blackjack” Pershing, one of whose young officers was Lieutenant
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George S. Patton, future famous four star General and tank commander in
World War Two.
General Francisco (Pancho) Villa and several of his Army of the North’s
“Dorados” (golden ones) ; Several of them , including Villa himself, are
armed with M.1895 Mexican Mauser carbines.
The Paraguayan Model 1927 Mauser was produced by the Oviedo Factory in
its three variants of, rifle, musketoon or short rifle, and carbine; The rifle was
very similar to the German Gewehr 98 with pistol gripped stock, but with a
tangent, instead of a Lange, sight; The musketoon, like the rifle but shorter and
with front sight protector, and the carbine with a full stock extending to the
muzzle and with a curved bolt (the pictures of all three models can be seen in
“Mauser Military Rifles of the World”, 5th Edition, pages 273-277); According to
its author Mr. Robert Ball, they were made from 1927-1932 in a total number of
somewhat less than 11,000 units; Actually, 8,463 rifles and 1,900 carbines,
according to Artemio Mortera’s article “Mauser Oviedo 1927: El
mataparaguayos”, in the Spanish Journal of Military History, No.100, 2008; I
have never had the opportunity to examine one.
Model of 1927 Paraguayan Mauser rifle produced at the Oviedo Factory;
Specimen from the now closed Monjuic Military Museum in Barcelona,
Spain.
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Markings in an Ovido manufactured Model of 1927 Paraguayan Mauser (Taken
from the M.M.M. specimen illustrated above, and, from the Internet)
These rifles, bearing the Paraguayan coat of arms and the marking “Mauser
Modelo Paraguayo) were nicknamed “Mata-Paraguayos” (Paraguayan Killers)
due to several of them blowing up with dire results during the Chaco War
between Paraguay and Bolivia (1932-1935); The accidents were attributed to,
either defective construction of the rifles, or to the ammunition used, World War
One surplus ammo of Belgian manufacture allegedly purchased from Argentina;
Apparently tests were conducted in Argentina using this powder at the
Paraguayan government’s request, including the Oviedo made rifles and also
German made Argentinian M.1891 and M1909 models and there were several
blow ups but I am not aware of the details; An uncertain number of these rifles
were purchased by the Spanish Republican government during its Civil War
(1936-39) and used there; I do not know if any further accidents occurred when
they were used with different ammunition; Any information in this respect
supplied by readers will be much appreciated.
Hector J. Meruelo
Miami, Florida, June, 2014.
RELATION OF DISCUSSED MODELS
Chapter 1 M.1891-92 experimental rifle – cal. 7.65x53 mm;
Barrel length 29.1“; OAL 48.6”
Maker: Mauser
Bayonet: German type M71/84 , WKC, Solingen.
M.1892 Spanish Model rifle – cal. 7x57 mm;
Barrel length 29.1”; OAL 48.6”
Maker: Mauser
Bayonet: probably the same M.71/84 as above.
M.1893 Spanish Model rifle – cal. 7x57 mm;
Barrel length 29.1”; OAL 48.6”
Makers: Mauser, Loewe, FN, DWM, Oviedo;
Bayonets: M.1893 Simson & Co, Suhl; M.1893 Toledo; M.1913 usable but not correct.
M.1891 Argentinian Model rifle – cal. 7.65x53 mm;
Barrel length 29.1”; OAL 48.6”
Maker: Loewe
Bayonet: Argentinian M.1891 sword-bayonet, WKC, Solingen.
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Chapter 2 M.1891 Argentinian(Spanish)carbine – cal. 7.65x53 mm
Barrel length 17.6”; OAL 37.2”
Maker: Loewe
Bayonet: None.
M.1892 Spanish Model carbine – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.5”; OAL 37.2”
Maker: Loewe
Bayonet: None.
M.1893 Spanish Model carbine No.1 – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length: 17.6”; OAL 37.1”
Maker: Loewe
Bayonet: None.
M.1893 Spanish Model carbine No.2 – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.6”; OAL 37.1”
Maker: Loewe , Oviedo
Bayonet: M.1893 Simson & Co, Suhl; M.1893 Toledo
M.1893 Model carbine No.2 for Aerostacion – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.6”; OAL 37.1”
Maker: Oviedo
Bayonet: M.1898 for Aerostacion (Toledo)
M.1895 Model cavalry carbine - cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.6”; OAL 37.1”
Maker: Oviedo
Bayonet: None.
Mexican Model.1895 carbine – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.25”; OAL 37.25”
Makers: DWM , Oviedo
Bayonet; None.
Chapter 3 M.1893 short Musketoon – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 18.33”; OAL 37.9”
Maker: Oviedo barrels; Loewe components
Bayonet: experimental M.1899 (Toledo)
M.1913 Experimental War Materiel Comission cavalry carbine – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 21.65”; OAL 39.5”
Bayonet: M.1913 (Toledo)
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M.1916 Musketoon – cal. 7x57 mm(plus 7.92 and 7.62 mm experimental units, and
conversions)
Barrel length 21.65”; OAL 39.5”
Makers: Oviedo, Catalonia, Basque country, Levant, Corunna)
Bayonets: M.1913 Toledo(specific), and M.1893 Toledo(also much
used but not specific for the Musketoon)
“Manresa – 1937” carbine – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length(?); OAL (?)
Maker: Industries de Guerra de Catalunya
Bayonet: None
FR-7 Cetmeton – cal. 7.62 x 51 mm
Barrel length 17.75”; OAL 38.5”
Maker: Oviedo
Bayonet: M.1964 and M.1969 CETME (Toledo)
Chapter 4 M.1943 “Corunna” Musketoon – cal. 7.92x57 mm
Barrel length 24.75”; OAL 43.5”
Maker : La Coruña Factory
Bayonets: Without adapter M.84/98 German and M.1944 Toledo;
With adapter M.1893 (Toledo), M.1913 (Toledo) and M.1941(Toledo)
M.1944 Air Force Musketoon – cal. 7.92x57 mm
Barrel length 24.75”; OAL 43.5”
Maker: Probably La Coruña Factory
Bayonet: M.1944(Toledo), Wz.1929 (Radom,Perkun),and “recomposition” models.
M.1944 Experimental Air Force Musketoon – cal. 7.92x57 mm
SN : EXP-EA-1
Barrel length 24.75”; OAL 43.5”
Maker: La Coruña Factory
Bayonet (?)
FR-8 Cetmeton – cal.7.92x57 mm
Barrel length 17.75”; OAL 38.5”
Maker: Oviedo
Bayonets: M.1964 and M.1969 CETME(Toledo)
Chapter 5 M.1895 Mexican Mauser rifle – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 29.0”; OAL 48.5” (Ball)
Makers: Loewe, DWM, Oviedo
Bayonet: Mexican M.1895 (similar to the Spanish M.1893)(maker?)
M.1895 Mexican Mauser carbine – cal. 7x57 mm
Barrel length 17.25”; OAL 37.25”
Makers: DWM, Oviedo
Bayonet: None
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M.1927 Paraguayan Mauser rifle – cal. 7.65 mm
Barrel length 28.63”; OAL
Maker: DWM, Oviedo
Bayonet: M.1927 Paraguayan, similar to the Argentinian M.1909 but with a shorter
blade; Made in Argentina?
M.1927 Paraguayan Mauser carbine – cal. 7.65 mm
Barrel length 22.5”; OAL 42.25”(Ball)
Makers: DWM, Oviedo
Bayonet: None
NOTE
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Antaris, Leonardo: “STAR Firearms”, 2001
Abad Josep, Estirado Manuel, Fuentes Francisco: “Pistolas y Subfusiles de la
República Producción de Guerra”, 2013
Barcelo Rubi, Bernat: Article in “ARMAS” magazine, year XVIII, No.206
Barcelo Rubi, Bernat: “Tres Siglos de Armamentos Portatiles en Espana”, 2002
Ball, George: “Mauser Military Rifles of the World”, 5th Edition, 2011
Calvó, Juan Luis: “Armamento Reglamentario y Auxiliar del Ejército Español”
Volumes 3 (1977) and 4 (1981)
Calvó, Juan Luis: “La Industria Armera Nacional 1830-1940”, 1997
Calvó, Juan L. Multiple articles from his website www.catalogacionarmas.com
Gulillou, Luc: “Mauser Fusils et Carabines Militaires”, 2003
De Haas, Frank: “Bolt Action Rifles”, updated edition 1984
Katz Friedrich: “The Face of Pancho Villa”, 1999
Mortera Perez, Artemio: “Mauser Oviedo 1927: El mataparaguayos”, Revista
Española de Historia Militar, No.100, 2008.